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| Battle of Matapan | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theSeventh Ottoman–Venetian War | |||||||
 Batalha Naval do Cabo Matapão, by António José Ramos, copy of the original painting made by João Dantas in 1812. | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Ibrahim Pasha | |||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 34 ships 24 galleys 1 frigate | 22 ships 21 frigates 9 galleys | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| SeeCasualties section | |||||||
TheBattle of Matapan, also known as theBattle of Cape Matapan, was anaval battle in theLaconian Gulf, an arm of theMediterranean Sea, fought between theRepublic of Venice and theOttoman Empire on 19 July, 1717, offCape Matapan in southernGreece. It was part of theSeventh Ottoman-Venetian War of 1714 – 1718.
TheVenetian fleet was supported by a mixed squadron of allied ships fromPortugal, thePapal States and theKnights Hospitaller ofMalta. TheOttoman fleet was commanded byKapudan Pasha Ibrahim Pasha.
On July 2, two Venetian squadrons joined forces off of Cape Matapan. The first squadron, composed of 24 sailing ships, was led byCapitano delle NaviMarcantonio Diedo. The second was a squadron of 24galleys commanded byCaptain General of the SeaAndrea Pisani. They met a small squadron of nine mixed Portuguese and Maltese ships led by the Maltese knight Bellefontaine.
The combined fleet, facing unfavorable winds, was unable to reach the island ofSapientza as planned. Desperate for water, they risked being trapped in theLaconian Gulf and sailed to the island ofCranae (Marathonisi), located off ofGytheio, to resupply.
The allied fleet was organized into four divisions: Diedo was in the van; following was the center led by his second-in-command Correr. The third or rear division was commanded by Dolfin. The fourth or allied division was commanded by Bellefontaine.
On 19, July the Venetians sighted the Ottoman fleet of 30 sailing ships and 4 galleys to their south, on the west side of the gulf entrance. The Ottomans, with a light wind from the south-southeast, had the advantage. Diedo was unable to sail to the west of the Ottoman fleet, and he decided to sail east across the gulf.
At sunrise, Ibrahim attacked Venice's rear division with six of his ships; the rest of the Ottoman fleet sailed ahead and attacked the Venetian van and center. At noon the two fleets approached the eastern side of the gulf. The leading ships then turned as the wind shifted from the southeast, which put the leading Venetian ships to windward of the Ottoman fleet for the first time. Seeing his advantage, Diedo attacked. In the early afternoon the Ottoman fleet retired, sailing for the Cervi–Cerigo (Elafonisos–Kythira) passage; the Venetians and allies sailed forCape Matapan, the southern tip of theMani Peninsula. Neither side wished to continue the fight.
The battle was considered a victory for Venice and her allies. Each allied state gave their own ships complete credit for any achievements. Accounts are highly unreliable; many list forces which were not actually present at the battle.
InLisbon, the victory off Matapan was celebrated and served to enhanceJohn V's international prestige.[4] For the support given to the allied Catholic forces, the Portuguese King received the title of the "Most Faithful" and the arch-episcopacy of Lisbon was elevated to the status of apatriarchate.[5]
The Seventh Ottoman–Venetian War was the last conflict between the two powers. It ended with an Ottoman victory and Venice losing its major Greek possession, theKingdom of the Morea. The war ended with theTreaty of Passarowitz in 1718.
13 Venetian
5 Maltese
4 Papal
2 Tuscan
Kebir Üç Ambarlı (The Great Three Decker) 114 (Flagship of Ibrahim Pasha)
Ejder Başlı (The Dragon) 70
Çifte Ceylan Kıçlı (The Two Gazelles) 70
Yaldızlı Hurma (The Gilded Date) 70
Şadırvan Kıçlı (The Sprinkling Fountain) 66
Siyah At Başlı (The Black Horse) 66
Beyaz At Başlı (The White Horse) 66
Kula At Başlı (The Grey Horse) 66
Büyük Gül Başlı (The Great Rose) 66
Yılan Başlı (The Snake) 34 (unique ship with 2x372 pdr "üç kantar" monster guns firing marble balls)
Ifrit Başlı (The Demon) 62
Küçük Gül Başlı (The Little Rose) 60
Çifte Teber Kıçlı (Two Halberds) 58
Yıldız Bagçeli (The Star Garden) 58
Zülfikâr Kıçlı (The Two Pointed Sword) 56
Akçaşehir (Town of Akçaşehir) 56 guns
Servi Bagçeli (The Cypress Garden) 54
Ay Bagçeli (The Moon Garden) 54
Yeşil Kuşaklı (Green Belted) 54
Sarı Kuşaklı (Yellow Belted) 54
Kırmızı Kuşaklı (Red Belted) 52
Al At Başlı (The Red Horse) 52
Yaldızlı Nar Kıçlı (The Gilded Pomegranate) 52
Mavi Arslan Başlı (The Blue Lion) 44
Siyah Arslan Başlı (The Black Lion) 44
Taç Başlı (The Crown) 44
Güneş Kıçlı (The Sun) 44
Kuş Bagçeli Karavele (The Bird Garden Caravella) 44
Yıldız Kıçlı (The Star) 40
Mavi Kıçlı Karavele (The Blue Caravella) 38
[7]
According to Saturnino Monteiro, the Portuguese ships were heavily damaged, with around 50 killed and 150 wounded. The Maltese ships likely suffered fewer casualties as they were involved in combat for a shorter time, while the Venetian ships experienced little to no damage.[8]
As for the Ottomans, Monteiro notes that one ship sank from artillery fire and another was accidentally set on fire, though eyewitnesses do not confirm this. Some claimed up to 6,000 Ottoman deaths, but Monteiro considers this number exaggerated.[8]
